OKLAHOMA CITY – While many Oklahomans may not think of the Sooner State as a tourist destination, a report from a local agency shows that visitors are responsible for generating billions of dollars in our state.

A report by the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department in August shows that visitors spent 6.1 percent more in 2012 than 2011, accounting for a total of $7.2 billion.

Most of that money was spent for transportation, food, lodging and entertainment.

Experts say without tourism, the state’s unemployment rate would have been 4.3 percent higher than it was, reaching almost 9.5 percent.